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Topic: Sowerby 'Patent' sugar. (Read 694 times)

looking for something else on the GMB 'search' facility in recent days, I came across a thread which from memory was posted by Bernard, possibly, talking about Sowerby pieces that carried the word 'PATENT' - but can't remember now where I found it.I've not previously seen this combination of the Peacocks head plus 'PATENT' (but without an Rd. No.), and despite looking through two of the Sowerby CD's am sure I didn't see this particular pattern, but might have missed it. Height is about 4.1/2". Grateful if someone can remind me please, or offer some explanation regarding this sugar and its marks. Thanks in advance for looking

Not really made any progress on this, and Bernard's notes regarding Sowerby patents not specific or detailed enough to help, unfortunately. I've been back through the CD patterns for Sowerby prior to George V, but again failed (as far as I can see) to locate this sugar design, which seems odd, and implies, almost, that the factory didn't put this particular design into production - unless it's a piece produced much earlier than I'd thought (but probably not, as all of the known Sowerby patents appear to have been registered between 1871 and 1896). Quite likely anyway that if I go to TNA and look through Sowerby registered PATENTS, the details won't include pictures of items to which the patents refered - and many were for machinery improvements etc. - so I may still not see this particular piece. This matter will lapse pro tem - unless anyone has any better suggestions.

This piece was pressed after 1876 when the trademark originated. It somewhat has the look of Sowerby's 1048 pattern but the only pieces in the catalog I have are oval dishes which don't lend themselves to direct comparison.

Sid - you're quite right of course re the date of registration of the peacock's head, so not earlier than 1876.The British publication 'English 19th-Century Press Moulded Glass' by Colin R. Lattimore lists glass patents allocated to Sowerby. Whilst most of these appear not to be relevant to the matter in question, one or two might have a connection with this post, so I will give some thought to those that look possibles, and see what comes up.Which catalogue are you looking in re pattern 1048?

thanks Sid - although regrettably seems I don't have access to the 1885 Pattern Book Eleven. I have a hardcopy reprint of Pattern Book Nine showing details of the smaller novelty items etc., and I have the CD data produced by Glen and Stephen Thistlewood (U.K.) - again starting with Book Nine - although it then jumps to Book Fifteen for 1895. The 1885 Book Eleven showing Pattern 1048 appears to not to be included, unfortunately. How comes you are favoured with access to this additional data - Uncle Sam been buying up the British industrial records again However, seems you were not convinced my sugar was there anyway.

I need a rather large hole to hide in Glen - to be honest I've never looked at that CD - I'd always assumed it contained something other than pattern books - it was perhaps the word 'Celebration...' in the title that made me think it contained data other that designs. Very many thanks indeed for pointing this out.